by Tj Dixon
“Ah ok. See you the day after tomorrow then.” I say and quickly back away from him towards the exit. He looks almost ready to pick me up and throw me out the door. I then turn and hastily leave the room.
I am grateful for the day off, because I’ve now worked every day for the last eight days without a single day off. Dwarves don’t have a rest day in their week. They just have the occasional holy day like Hallowed Stone Day. I have no more idea when the next one is than I had about when Hallowed Stone Day was until Grundle told me just now. When I first asked Grundle he just said, ‘it is when it is’.
The corridor is crowded but the street is worse. It is no different to normal though, so I just follow the flow of pushing and shoving dwarves until I reach the prison. When I reach the jail I struggle against the flow and make my way into our street. I breathe a sigh of relief, because our street is as quiet as always. I then calmly stroll to our door. I blush as I remember my previous mistakes. Not wanting to get yelled at again I knock and then wait.
“Just a minute!” Elucia calls out and I am glad I knocked. “You can come in now!” I open the door and find Kai and Lucy are both back too. I don’t imagine Dairon will be long.
“I have the day off tomorrow.” I tell them with a smile.
“Did you get paid the usual?” Lucy asks.
“Yes.”
“Then Kai will be able to get a bounty permit.” Lucy says with a nod. “After that it will be Elucia and then Dairon so even without your day off it would have been another fourteen days. Now it’s fifteen days.”
“Kai will be earning too though, so it should take less than that to afford the permits.” I remind Lucy.
“Until Elucia has her permit Kai’s not going to be able to do the harder jobs, so she’s not going to be earning much.” Lucy points out.
“Anyway, I need a day off so I’m glad I am off work tomorrow.” I say a bit annoyed at Lucy.
“So what do you plan to do with it?” Lucy asks.
“I’m not sure, but I could use a rest.” I tell her. Kai looks like she is about to say something, but then there is a knock on the door. Dairon is just as cautious as I am, because he has also had the misfortune to enter at an awkward moment without knocking. “Come in!”
The door opens and Dairon enters, obviously tired, and just sits against a wall without saying anything. He has clearly been pushing himself really hard. He just can’t stand being repeatedly beaten by Elucia, who until she started training here was utterly useless at magic.
“Welcome back.” I say.
“Thanks.” He says weakly.
“Now everyone is here, let’s eat!” Kai says lifting up her cooking pot. It is the same black stone pot she created to cook the worms, but the food Kai has been cooking since is much more appealing, as long as you don’t ask what it is. The other pot has a clear white cross on it, so we can’t get them mixed up. Considering what we use the other pot for that is rather important.
Kai fills the pot with water magic and creates a flame under it. We all gather around the pot. The warmth of the flames is nice. Not that it is especially cold in here, but it could be warmer. I didn’t see what she put in the pot, but when it comes out a few minutes later it is basically boiled meat. Kai hands a small piece of meat to Lucy and says, “Don’t wait for us.”
“Wasn’t planning to.” Lucy says and takes a bite. Then she winces. Taking the meat out of her mouth she asks the forbidden question. “What is this meat from?”
“I forget the name, but a bug of some sort.” Kai shrugs. Then she hands me a piece of the meat. It is hot, but not too hot to hold.
“Does it taste bad?” I ask Lucy a bit worried about her reaction.
“No, it tastes fine.” Lucy says but I don’t believe her. Her aura seems to show a bit too much amusement.
“Dairon, here’s yours.” Kai says. Dairon looks nervously at me.
“Try yours first.” I tell him.
“Ok.” Dairon says nervously and takes a bite. He winces too. He takes it out of his mouth and checks his teeth with his right hand. “Ah good, all still there.”
“Is it too hard to eat?” I ask. Dairon nods. Kai takes a piece out and bites into it. Then she chews.
“Seems fine to me.” Kai says with a frown.
“That’s good, because it doesn’t like we’re going to be able to eat it, so you’re going to have to eat all of it on your own.” I say with a sigh and hand back my piece of meat to Kai. Then Lucy and Dairon do too.
“The market closed early today, so if you’re not going to eat this that only leaves biscuits for today and tomorrow. I was planning the same again for tomorrow.” Kai tells us apologetically.
“I’ll get them.” Elucia says and gets up to get the small black stone box of biscuits. Since our home is so small they weren’t far away from any of us, but Elucia was still the closest to them. She walks the whole six or so feet to get them and then offers the small stone box around. We each take three small biscuits, other than Lucy who only takes half a biscuit and Kai who is busy eating the meat.
Three biscuits may not sound like much, but they are enchanted to relieve hunger. By the end of the third biscuit I am truly full. They don’t have any taste to them, but at least we don’t have to risk our teeth to eat them and it beats staying hungry.
“Grundle was talking about ‘strangeness’ on the streets. He said to be careful. He wouldn’t tell me what he meant by strangeness though.” I say and Lucy frowns.
“That’s not very helpful.” Lucy says shaking her head.
“I think I know what he meant.” Kai says. “Three dwarves went missing last night. There was a lot of talk about it in the market today. None of them knew each other and they all lived in totally different areas of the city. One was a smithy apprentice who lived near the main forge that you work at. One was a mage tutor who lived in the fifth dome and the last one is the real shock.”
“What do you mean by the fifth dome?” I interrupt.
“We’re in the first dome. There are about fifty domes in Nirvali, all connected by secret tunnels. That way if one is found it is possible to escape to the other domes. Most dwarves live their whole lives in one dome, though news spreads between domes along with the merchants who trade their goods between the domes.” Kai tells me.
“Oh… Nirvali is much bigger than I realised then.” I admit.
“So the third person who went missing was one of the council members on the Council of Elders. He lives in the twenty fifth dome. Crime is really rare in Nirvali so to have three random crimes, especially something as serious as a kidnapping or murder, on the same night is unthinkable. For one person to have committed three crimes in three separate domes on the same night is just as unthinkable though. So everyone is scratching their heads.” Kai tells us.
“What if it wasn’t a dwarf? Perhaps an enemy spy.” Lucy says looking concerned.
“If the dwarves think of that we’ll be the first target of their suspicion.” Kai says with a frown.
“Dwarves aren’t stupid. They’ll think of it. Some certainly already have by now.” Lucy says with a nod.
“They aren’t going to do anything about it tomorrow, because it’s a holy day. If they suspect us it will be today or the day after tomorrow that they investigate us.” Kai says.
“Maybe we should investigate it tomorrow.” I say. “If we can find out who the real culprit was they aren’t going to have any reason to suspect us.”
“No.” Kai says shaking her head. “Even if we stood a chance of solving this, which we don’t, it would be too risky. Everyone should stay inside tomorrow, because that’s what the dwarves will do and expect us to do too. We’ll only draw more unwanted attention if we go outside tomorrow.”
“So we just have to stay indoors all day? At least it gives me a chance to rest, but it’s going to be boring. I’m tired though, so I’m going to try and get some sleep now.” I say.
“You don’t need to get up early tomorrow.�
�� Lucy reminds me.
“I’m still tired though.” I say and as I say it I feel even more tired. I yawn, get up and walk the five feet to my stone pillow. Although I have just eaten it was only three biscuits. Sure they relieve my hunger, but it is still very different to eating a proper meal so sleeping straight after eating them is no problem.
“Well good night.” Lucy chuckles.
“Yeah good night.” Elucia says sounding a bit more genuine.
“Good night.” Kai and Dairon tell me.
“Good night everyone.” I say and rest my head on the soft stone pillow before closing my eyes. The others talk quietly for a while before settling down for the night. I am glad they don’t talk for long, because despite my tiredness it is impossible to get to sleep whilst they are talking.
Lying here in the silence I find myself dwelling on a certain image in my mind. That first time I saw Elucia changing. I don’t understand why, but I have been having a hard time getting it out of my mind whilst I try to sleep each night. Eventually though, sleep finds me.
(Grunti)
“Are you serious?” I ask dad, not quite believing what he has said.
“Yes.” Dad says sounding very serious.
“You’re not going to change your mind?” I ask suspiciously.
“Definitely not. If you can find Grimji and return him safely to his father, then you’ll deserve it.” Dad tells me.
“I think I often deserve it.” I say.
“That’s just in your mind.” Dad says cruelly.
“Fine, I’ll find Grimji, just as soon as I finish the fungi.” I tell dad firmly. Then I take a large bite of fried fungi. My favourite breakfast again!
“Try not to get arrested whilst you’re at it.” Dad tells me.
“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.”
“And don’t do anything stupid, like blowing up the world.” Dad says sounding a bit nervous.
“Don’t worry, there’s very little chance of that happening.” I tell dad.
“Make sure there’s no chance of that happening!”
“Ok. No need to yell.” I say with a shrug. Then I finish up my fungi and head to my room.
“Weren’t you going to find Grimji?” Dad asks.
“Yes.” I say and continue into my room. I shut the door so I can concentrate and start by forming the gem. Diamonds are a pain to get right, so it will take a while. I consider the reward though. Yes this is well worth the effort.
(Peter)
I wake to find a dwarf staring at me. He has piercing green eyes, short golden hair and of course black skin. He is about three foot tall and probably a couple of feet wide. He doesn’t have a beard so is probably fairly young for a dwarf.
“So who are you?” I ask cautiously.
“I’m Grunti, but you are interesting.” He says scratching his head.
“Interesting?” I ask and hear Lucy yawn from across the room.
“Two souls... What’s more I have no idea what either of them are. Not human, certainly. What are you?” Grunti asks. Then Lucy lands on top of his head and yells at him.
“What are you saying to my Peter!?” She yells.
“You’re Peter?” He asks dumbfounded.
“Yes my Peter! My master!” Lucy yells and jumps into the air again.
“Lucy, it’s ok.” I tell Lucy. “I’d like to know what he has to say.”
“You are my Lucy’s master?!” Grunti asks me furiously.
“I am not your Lucy!” Lucy yells right in his left ear. “Anyway, you never brought the amplifier!”
“I knew you’d be mad! I’m sorry, but you don’t need to give yourself to another guy just because of that!” Grunti exclaims.
“What’s the racket about?” Elucia asks sounding very annoyed and then rubs her eyes tiredly. Grunti looks at her.
“You’re not as cute as my Lucy, and you are a bit tall, but at least you’re nice and flat.” Grunti says. I blink at his words, which turns out to be a mistake. The time I lose doing so almost prevents me avoiding the fireball that Elucia sends at him. Using flight magic I just about avoid her attack with only singed clothes. Lucy lands on my shoulder. Grunti standing there unharmed where the fireball hit, mutters. “That wasn’t cute.”
“That was a bit of an overreaction.” Lucy says.
“She threw a fireball at me!” Grunti complains.
“Exactly. An overreaction to a mere insult.”
“I suppose I shouldn’t have said she was tall.” Grunti says.
“That wasn’t what annoyed her.” Lucy chuckles.
“Elucia does seem to have been overreacting a lot recently.” I say.
“Peter, do you want to die?” Elucia asks me sweetly. I urgently shake my head. “Dwarf, never tell a girl she’s flat. Especially never tell me that again, or you will die.”
“That was a compliment!” Grunti says stunned by her words.
“It wasn’t.” Elucia says firmly. Grunti just shakes his head.
“Elucia.” Lucy says firmly and waits for Elucia to look her way. “Attacking someone with a fireball is going way too far. Someone could have been killed. You didn’t even know that dwarves are almost invulnerable to fire, did you?”
“No…” Elucia says with a shrug.
“Your time under David’s control really seems to have changed you.” I say with a frown. “The Elucia I met at the academy was clearly a kind girl who wouldn’t dream of trying to kill someone because of an insult. I didn’t know you well, but that much I am sure of.”
“I wonder…” Grunti says scratching his head and staring at Elucia. Then he grins and says. “It’s the clothes. They’re cursed. You should take them off.”
“Dwarf, do you really have a death wish?” Elucia asks him.
“He’s right!” Lucy exclaims.
“You want to die too?” Elucia asks.
“No.” Lucy says. “I’m not suggesting you take them off here and now, but we need to get you some new clothes. Those are definitely cursed. I should have noticed that sooner!”
“But they help me control magic!” Elucia protests.
“They also help control you though.” Lucy says firmly. “If you wear them for too long the enemy will be able to completely control you. That would be bad.”
“We’ll help you control your magic without them.” Dairon says.
“Just when I had full control of my magic!” Elucia protests. Kai sighs, stands and stretches her arms up in the air. They touch the roof.
“Everyone other than Elucia go outside until I say it’s ok to come back in.” Kai says.
“You’re one ugly tall girl.” Grunti tells her.
“I foresee you living a very short life.” Kai tells him with a glare.
“I don’t believe in magical predictions of the future.”
“I don’t need magic to see your future.” Kai says with a shrug. “Now get out.”
“Ok, ok.” Grunti says and so we leave the two of them alone.
Waiting outside I look at Grunti with a frown and ask. “So why were you here?”
